Latest news with #RepublicofCongo
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ammat Global Resources Managing Director (MD) Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid Congolese Upstream Expansion
Massimiliano Mignacca, Managing Director of independent hydrocarbon producer Ammat Global Resources, has joined the continent's largest energy event – African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 - as a speaker. Taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, the event will showcase emerging investment opportunities across the continent's most promising oil and gas markets. As a major upstream operator in the Republic of Congo, Ammat Global Resources is well-positioned to discuss strategic for unlocking the full potential of the country's hydrocarbon market. Focusing on optimizing oil and gas operations, Ammat Global Resources strives to boost oil production in the Republic of Congo. The company works closely with the country's national oil company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo to scale-up exploration, in line with national goals of reaching 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) crude production in the coming years. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Mignacca is expected to share insights into strategies for increasing production in the Republic of Congo, as well as ongoing drilling campaigns and future investment priorities. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. Ammat Global Resources has been working towards optimizing operations at mature fields in the Republic of Congo. The company plans to kickstart a drilling campaign, designed to increase output by approximately 70% over the next five years. This builds on successful field optimization in recent months. Notably, in 2024, the company implemented a comprehensive development plan at the Loango and Zatchi fields, situated in the shallow waters of the country. The plan strives to improve the structural integrity of the asset platforms through maintenance and the replacement of key components. Since its implementation, Ammat Global Resources has seen a 75% increase in production capacity at the fields, with output rising from 4,000 bpd to 7,000 bpd. At the Loango offshore field, the company revitalized three platforms in 2024. Operations at the field started in 2023, and since then, the company has launched a program to modernize the sea pipeline linking the field's treatment platform to peripheral platforms. An environmental risk mitigation program – undertaken in partnership with other operators – is also being implemented at the field, as well as a campaign to replace outdated pumps and reactivate wells. The company also plans to revamp two additional platforms at the Zatchi field. Ammat Global Resources secured exploration and production permits for both fields in 2023. Africa's energy sector is rapidly changing, and companies like Ammat Global Resources stand to dominate marginal field production with potential new investments in Angola, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, the Republic of Congo and others. While the company represents a relatively new upstream player, Ammat Global Resources has already played an instrumental part in supporting the Republic of Congo's production goals. The company's approach includes revitalizing existing assets by enhancing platform integrity and operational efficiency. Looking ahead, the company's upcoming drilling campaign and field optimization is expected to unlock greater value from the country's offshore assets. The company is increasing its production with low carbon solutions. Its new drilling campaigns and expansion is a significant milestone in our mission to make energy poverty history by supporting the Republic of Congo through sustainable growth and long-term value creation. Ammat Global Resources has a company strategy that respects the unique rights of local communities and continues to make great strides toward learning, developing relationships based on trust, and sharing benefits from its oil operations. As such, the company stands to be significant player in the near future. Insights shared at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 will provide a snapshot of the opportunities available in the Republic of Congo. 'While a major oil producer, the Republic of Congo still offers significant growth opportunities for oil and gas operators. The country's untapped exploration prospects continue to entice players, and companies such as Ammat Global Resources are making strides to unlock new discoveries in the country. With greater investment in exploration and production, the Republic of Congo stands to accelerate output and support regional fuel security,' states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Afentra Chief Operating Officer (COO) Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 to Discuss Maximizing Output Across Africa's Mature Assets
Ian Cloke, COO of Africa-focused oil and gas upstream company Afentra, has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference as a speaker. During the event – scheduled for September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town – Cloke is expected to share insight into the company's strategy for breathing new life into Africa's maturing assets. As an independent company with a diverse portfolio of production, near-field and exploration assets, Afentra is well-positioned to discuss how junior and independent operators can support production growth in Africa. With its core portfolio in Angola, Afentra has gradually expanded its presence across the market while seeking new opportunities in regional markets such as the Republic of Congo. Onshore Angola, Afentra secured a 45% non-operated interest in Block KON 15 in April 2025. In July 2024, Afentra signed a formal agreement with Angola's upstream regulator the National Oil, Gas&Biofuels Agency for the acquisition of a 45% non-operated interest in Block KON 19. Both blocks are situated in the proven yet under-explored onshore Kwanza basin and are adjacent to the legacy Tobias and Galinda oilfields. As such, they offer significant potential for rapid exploration and appraisal. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Cloke will share insight into Afentra's investment strategy in Angola, including its expansion into the onshore market. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. In addition to onshore assets, Afentra is targeting increased output at Angola's offshore blocks, with stakes in Blocks3/05, 3/05Aand 23. In May 2024, the company increased its holding in Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A, following the acquisition of non-operated interests from international energy company Azule Energy. Afentra's stakes increased to 30% in Block 3/05 and 21.33% in Block 3/05A, with the company inheriting 480,000 barrels of crude oil stock as part of the transaction. Striving to boost production in Angola, Afentra is working closely with the country's national oil company Sonangol – the Block 3/05 operator - to optimize output at the asset. In a short period of time, the partners increased production at the block from 17,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 22,000 bpd, with plans to bolster output even further. The company is also evaluating a range of investments to support and upgrade existing infrastructure, while evaluating the potential installation of water injection systems, with several light well injections carried out over the past two years. At Block 3/05A, the operator Sonangol alongside Afentra and other block partners are assessing strategies to boost production. Subsurface mapping has been completed to identify future potential production of injection wells, with the data ranked alongside other rig-related opportunities for selection in the potential 2026/2027 drilling campaign. The project partners restored production in 2023 following a five-year shutdown, with the Gazela-101 well averaging 1,248 bpd gross during 2024. Meanwhile, Block 23 - operated by Namibia's NOC NAMCOR with 40%, Afentra with 40% and Sonangol with 20% - also holds significant potential. Covering an area of 5,000 km² in the offshore Kwanza basin, the block has a proven working petroleum system. 'Africa's maturing assets still hold significant upside potential, with new technologies and the expertise of junior and independent players set to revitalize production across these blocks. Afentra is spearheading efforts in this regard, unlocking greater value from the continent's producing fields. As countries continue to improve their operating environments for independent players, companies such as Afentra are expected to play an even larger role in the continent's exploration and production landscape,' states Tomás Gerbasio, VP: Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- The Sun
Charity linked to Prince Harry ‘admits human rights abuses following claims of rangers beating and raping locals'
A MAJOR charity linked to Prince Harry has admitted that its park rangers committed human rights abuses. The Duke of Sussex, 40, served as the president of conservation charity African Parks from 2017 to 2023, before stepping down and becoming a board member. 4 4 4 The admission comes after an investigation by the Mail on Sunday in January alleged that guards working for the organisation in the Republic of Congo committed human rights abuses. The report alleged that the non-profit subjected indigenous people to a range of abuses, including rape and torture. The charity has now admitted that human rights abuses did take place. The admission follows a review by Omnia Strategy, a London-based law firm that had been investigating the alleged abuse since December 2023. They did not publish the full findings or recommendations - and instead sent them straight to African Parks. There is no suggestion that any of the alleged abuses took place when Harry was president of the organisation or on its board. It also did not make any suggestion that Prince Harry was aware of any of the alleged abuses. The non-profit said that they had reviewed Omnia's advice and "endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations". They then said in a bombshell admission: "African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred." African Parks added that they "deeply regret the pain and suffering that these [abuses] have caused to the victims". Prince Harry's torched any chance of an olive branch from the king - he isn't trusted The organisation added that Omnia's landmark review "highlighted several failures of our systems", in particular during the early years of management of a national park called Odzala. Prince Harry has been closely involved in understanding the findings and implementing any necessary recommendations, according to The Telegraph. He was made a member of the Board of Directors in 2023 when he ended his tenure as president of the charity. Harry is no longer on the charity's board. African Parks is one of Africa's largest conservation charities. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it manages 23 protected areas in 13 African countries. The admission comes after the Duke of Sussex was caught up in a blistering row with the boss of his charity Sentebale after he sensationally quit the trust. The Duke of Sussex had set the African charity up in 2006 in memory of his mum, Princess Diana, along with his pal Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. But the pair then revealed they have sided with their charity's furious trustees after they unanimously resigned following a row with board chair Sophie Chandauka. The charity's boss then released an explosive statement in which she slammed "unthinkable" infighting in the organisation as well as made claims that there had been a "cover-up". Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, was selected to be chair of the trustees last year. However, it is understood the trustees strongly opposed this move and had wanted her to step down - a move which has seen her sue. The bitter feud appeared to be triggered by the move to transfer the charity's fundraising operation to Africa, which caused several key figures to quit the organisation. 4
